Ultra-Orthodox Protest Dangers of Internet in NYC

Hareidi Orthodox leaders are organizing a rally in NYC to protest against the dangers of the Internet and modern digital technology.

By Rachel Hirshfeld

First Publish: 4/29/2012, 2:00 PM

Haredi Demonstration

Israel news photo: Flash 90

Hareidi Orthodox leaders are organizing what they say will be a massive rally in New York City to protest against the dangers of the Internet and the intrusiveness of modern digital technology.

Tens of thousands are expected to gather at Citi Field, the Mets’ baseball stadium in Queens, on May 20. Jewish Daily News reported that as of now, $1.5 million has been raised to fund the event.

“This will be a mass rally never before seen in the history of Orthodox Jewry in the U.S.,” one of the organizers said, according to Jewish Daily News. “It will be a gathering of unity of all the Jews living in the U.S., a gathering to disseminate information and a prayer rally for the success of Klal Israel’s [the community of Israel] war on the technology which threatens the sanctity of the homes of Israel.”

Statement and advertisements promoting the event have been published in hareidi religious newspapers.

“It is well known, that in recent times, that through the Internet many serious family-related problems have been created, and it all happens because of it, and something must be done so they won’t be hurt,” the statement said.

“And since this touches almost everyone, we must assemble together to protect and be protected, and we hope that through this gathering in search of ideas we will be helped from Heaven to save the many, and may it be that we will be successful in encouraging the public not to stumble over this obstacle, and the Lord will guide us in a truthful path.”

The letter is signed by a number of leading Israeli hareidi-religious rabbis.

As technology continues to increasingly influence the way people receive and relay information, hareidi and ultra-Orthodox factions of the Jewish community have been instituting restrictions against access to the Internet, believing that it has much content that is immodest and unsuitable for the hareidi viewer. Since it can essentially be totally private, the danger is that not everyone will not withstand the temptation to turn to unsuitable sites.

National religious educational institutions have not banned the internet, but are trying to raise the awareness of parents and students about the need to restrict internet and use discretion in Facebook and other social media.

Last month, an Orthodox Jewish girls’ high school in Brooklyn, N.Y., ordered students to close their Facebook accounts, or risk paying an $100 fine, or expulsion.